Preventive maintenance while I have the radiator out? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel Dan · #1 05-08-2008, 11:17 AM

Hey folks,
I have my radiator out right now and so I'm wondering what items I should be either preventively replacing or testing, or whatever, while I have some room to work in the front of the engine. I already know about the vacuum pump issue. I suppose I should flush the radiator and straighten out any bent fins.

Any other ideas?

Chad300tdt · #2 05-08-2008, 11:39 AM

Do a valve adjustment, it would be easy to reach the bolt on the crank from the top side. (unless you usually use a bump starter).

... also install an intercooler now while you can alter your brackets easily.

EDIT: scratch the first idea, I just noticed you have a w124.

vstech · #3 05-08-2008, 11:55 AM

inspect your fan coupling... if it's weak, you could have cooling issues. not something you want on a 603...

blindwolf · #4 05-08-2008, 12:27 PM

Clean both sides of the radiator and the condensor fins.

Brian Carlton · #5 05-08-2008, 01:01 PM

Take the radiator and hold it up to the sun.

Peer through the fins...........see all that crap? That's got to be eliminated before you reinstall the radiator.

The best option is a commercial condenser cleaner with some compressed air and some patience.

Most of the cooling problems with the engine are a result of poor airflow through the fins.........they are extremely close together and harbor all kinds of foreign material that is not easily dislodged without a powerful chemical treatment.

Cleaning both sides of the radiator accomplishes basically nothing.

vstech · #6 05-08-2008, 01:29 PM

whatcha got the rad out for? now is a good time to inspect or change your belt... inspect the tensioner, look over the hoses, flush the block... oh, how about checking the length of the brushes on the alternator... how does your water pump look? maybe pull it and inspect the vanes. if it's not been painted, perhaps you can sandblast the rust off it, and paint it black... pretty much anything that's on the front of the motor should be seriously inspected. and as usual, I agree with Brian. take that rad to a carwash and pressure wash it from the back side. get that sucker totally free of bugs and whatnot.
your car will thank you by not overheating!

Brian Carlton · #7 05-08-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

take that rad to a carwash and pressure wash it from the back side. get that sucker totally free of bugs and whatnot.
your car will thank you by not overheating!

I don't have a lot of confidence in a pressure washer for the following reasons:

1) If you run the pressure washer at sufficient pressure to get the water through the fins and clean them, the unit will damage the fins at the surface of the radiator.

2) If you reduce the pressure sufficiently so that the fins are not damaged, the velocity of the water is insufficient to dislodge the trapped material.

I attempted the use of a garden hose nozzle directly against the fins without any success. I don't believe too much additional water velocity can be utilized without external damage.

vstech · #8 05-08-2008, 01:52 PM

I have had excellent results with a pressure washer on radiators... the secret is you must be perfectly straight on with the water. DO NOT SPRAY AT AN ANGLE!!!!
I am sure a strong cleaner with bug dissolver would be good enough, but nutting beats pressure!

Brian Carlton · #9 05-08-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I have had excellent results with a pressure washer on radiators... the secret is you must be perfectly straight on with the water. DO NOT SPRAY AT AN ANGLE!!!!
I am sure a strong cleaner with bug dissolver would be good enough, but nutting beats pressure!

Did you need to use a tiny nozzle to allow the water to enter the space between the fins? I'd think the wide pattern would give you problems on a M/B radiator. They're not of the strongest construction with regard to the fins.

vstech · #10 05-08-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Did you need to use a tiny nozzle to allow the water to enter the space between the fins? I'd think the wide pattern would give you problems on a M/B radiator. They're not of the strongest construction with regard to the fins.

nah, just a standard car wash sprayer works fine. usually there is a flat fan pattern, just orient the fan so it is in line with the fins, not perpendicular.

Alastair · #11 05-08-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

I have had excellent results with a pressure washer on radiators... the secret is you must be perfectly straight on with the water. DO NOT SPRAY AT AN ANGLE!!!!
I am sure a strong cleaner with bug dissolver would be good enough, but nutting beats pressure!

Absolutely!--

If you use a pressure-washer its VITAL that the water is directed with no discernable angle which otherwise can flatten the fins or gills whatever you call them, between the water-tubes....

Ive done many rads, condensers, intercoolers and oil-coolers this way--works wonders!...

For heavy oil contamination use a little washing-up liquid on there too, and carefully work in with a Soft paint-brush before washing off....

dieseldiehard · #12 05-08-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

Hey folks,
I have my radiator out right now and so I'm wondering what items I should be either preventively replacing or testing, or whatever, while I have some room to work in the front of the engine. I already know about the vacuum pump issue. I suppose I should flush the radiator and straighten out any bent fins.

Any other ideas?

I am just waiting to replace the front crank seal

when I get to where you are now.

Diesel Dan · #13 05-08-2008, 04:41 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! The reason I have the radiator out is because I'm replacing all the belt tensioner parts - so that's covered. My radiator is pretty chewed up from the fan coming in contact with it. I don't know if it's the wrong size fan, or the wrong radiator, but when I braked the engine pitched forward enough to gouge the radiator. It took a while for me to figure out what that noise was. I have already replaced the motor mounts and trimmed the fan blades with tin snips so they no longer contact the radiator, but the damage was done. My car runs at a consistent 90C degrees, and never goes past 100C even in extreme ambient heat and sitting in traffic; so despite the mangled fins and clipped fan, I'm still well within specs. I will probably try to straighten the fins out as best I can and pressure wash it from behind.

vstech · #14 05-08-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Dan

My radiator is pretty chewed up from the fan coming in contact with it. I don't know if it's the wrong size fan, or the wrong radiator, but when I braked the engine pitched forward enough to gouge the radiator.

um, are you sure your front end is not damaged from an accident?
hard to believe that the motor mounts would allow THAT much travel...
I would CERTAINLY get a new fan, not trim the old one...